11104 S. Natoma Ave.

Worth, IL 60482

(708) 448-0333

Does Your Child Need Sealants?

Does Your Child Need Sealants?

Preventive care is the hallmark of modern dentistry. Besides brushing, flossing, a healthy diet, and routine cleanings and check-ups, your dentists at All Smiles in Worth recommend dental sealants to protect young teeth from the ravages of tooth decay. In fact, even teens and adults can enjoy years of protection from these easily applied plastic coatings.

What are plastic sealants?

The National Institutes of Health call them an effective barrier against tooth decay. Sealants are really useful on deeply pitted and grooved premolars and molars which easily collect plaque, tartar and their associated acids. Sealants are a quick, painless treatment which is relatively inexpensive, particularly when compared to the ravages and expense tooth decay can cause.

If your Worth dentist determines your child would benefit from plastic sealants, he or she will clean and dry the tooth and apply a mild etching liquid to help the coating stick to the tooth.

Then, the tooth-colored plastic is painted on, with careful attention to the intricate surface imperfections on the tooth. Then, the dentist cures the coating with a UV light. Each tooth takes about 10 to 15 minutes and can be repeated on as many teeth as the dentist deems necessary.

Does your child need this service?

The American Dental Association says that most dentists like to apply sealants as soon as a child's first molars erupt. Then, as teeth are lost and permanent molars come in, the service should be revisited so the teen and adult years remain as decay-free as possible.

Sealants are a continual barrier which stay in place for up to a year. Plus, if they wear thin or chip, your dentist can repair or re-apply sealants as needed.

Find out more

At All Smiles in Worth, IL, the professional team loves preventive dentistry. Sealants are just one of the many services they offer to keep smiles bright and healthy. If you have questions about sealants for your children--or for yourself--please call the office, and we'll be happy to answer them. Also, please arrange your usual semi-annual cleanings and exams. Call All Smiles at (708) 448-0333.